May 22, 2008
J.D. Harrington
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-5241
j.d.harrington@nasa.gov
George H. Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@nasa.gov
Rob Gutro
Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
301-286-4044
robert.j.gutro@nasa.gov
MEDIA ADVISORY: M08-106
NASA'S GLAST SPACE TELESCOPE TO LAUNCH ABOARD DELTA II ON JUNE 3
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Launch of NASA's Gamma-ray Large Area Space
Telescope, or GLAST, is targeted for Tuesday, June 3, from Pad 17-B
at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla. The launch window extends
from 11:45 a.m. to 1:40 p.m. EDT and remains unchanged through Aug.
7. The June 3 launch date is dependent on space shuttle Discovery's
May 31 liftoff, and will move if the shuttle launch is delayed.
NASA's new gamma-ray observatory will open a wide window on the
universe through the study of Gamma rays, the highest-energy form of
light. GLAST data will enable scientists to answer persistent
questions across a broad range of topics, including supermassive
black-hole systems, pulsars, the origin of cosmic rays, and searches
for signals of new physics.
NASA will hold a pre-launch news conference at NASA's Kennedy Space
Center news center at 1 p.m. on Sunday, June 1. The briefing will be
carried live on NASA Television.
Participating in the briefing will be:
- Dr. Jon Morse, director, Astrophysics Division, NASA Headquarters,
Washington
- Omar Baez, NASA launch director/launch manager, Kennedy Space Center
- Kris Walsh, director of Delta NASA and Commercial Programs, United
Launch Alliance, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
- Albert Vernacchio, GLAST deputy project manager, NASA's Goddard
Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md.
- Dr. Steven Ritz, GLAST Project scientist/astrophysicist, Goddard
Space Flight Center
- Joel Tumbiolo, U.S. Air Force Delta II launch weather officer, 45th
Weather Squadron, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station
A prelaunch webcast will take place on Monday, June 2 at noon on NASA
Direct, Kennedy's Internet broadcasting network. GLAST's launch
director will explain how the countdown will unfold on launch day,
discuss how the spacecraft and Delta II launch vehicle were prepared
for liftoff, and viewers will hear GLAST's project scientist explain
the mission's goals. To view the webcast, and for more information
about the GLAST mission, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/glast
NASA TELEVISION COVERAGE
On Sunday, June 1, NASA TV coverage of the GLAST pre-launch news
conference at Kennedy will begin at 1 p.m. Two-way question and
answer capability will be available from participating NASA
locations. On Tuesday, June 3, NASA TV coverage of the launch will
begin at 9:30 a.m. and conclude after spacecraft separation from the
Delta II rocket, which occurs 75 minutes after launch. Coverage will
be carried on the NASA TV Media Channel (Channel 103). The broadcast
network HDNet also will carry the launch in high-definition
television format from 11:30 a.m. until noon. For complete NASA TV
downlink information, schedules and links to streaming video, visit:
http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
Audio of the pre-launch news conference will be carried on Kennedy's
monitor-only phone lines and can be heard by dialing 321-867-1260 or
321-867-7135. On launch day, mission audio countdown activities
without NASA launch commentary will be carried on 321-867-7135,
beginning at 8:30 a.m. NASA launch commentary will begin at 9:30 a.m.
and will be available at 321-867-1260. Launch commentary also will be
available on amateur radio frequency 146.940 Mhz (VHF), heard within
Brevard County, Fla.
ACCREDITATION AND MEDIA ACCESS BADGES FOR THE GLAST LAUNCH
All reporters, including those who are permanently badged for Kennedy,
must complete the accreditation process for the activities associated
with the GLAST launch. The media accreditation process may be done
via the Web by going to:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
Accreditation requests for the GLAST pre-launch, launch and
post-launch activities at Kennedy and Cape Canaveral Air Force
Station must be received by the close of business Tuesday, May 27. On
Friday, May 30, media without permanent credentials may obtain NASA
access badges at the Pass and Identification building between 6 a.m.
and 4 p.m. The building is located on State Road 405 south of
Titusville, east of U.S. 1 after passing the Astronaut Hall of Fame.
Two forms of government-issued identification are required, including
one with photo. To arrange for badging over the weekend, contact
Laurel Lichtenberger in the news media accreditation office at
321-867-4036.
REMOTE CAMERA PLACEMENT AT COMPLEX 17
On Monday, June 2, photographers who wish to set up remote cameras at
the Delta launch complex will be escorted to Pad 17-B. Departure by
vehicle convoy will be at 1 p.m. from the Space Florida parking lot
located on Poseidon Avenue, adjacent to Gate 1 of Cape Canaveral Air
Force Station.
LAUNCH DAY PRESS SITE ACCESS AT CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION
On Tuesday, June 3, sign-in of badged reporters will begin at 10:30
a.m. at the Space Florida parking lot. Media will be required to show
their permanent KSC credentials or temporary KSC machine badge before
being allowed access to the media viewing site. Following the launch,
media will be escorted via caravan back to Gate 1. Media requiring
access to the Kennedy Press Site after launch must proceed through
Gate 2 on State Road 3. Media requiring remote camera retrieval
should remain at the viewing site until escorted to the launch pad.
After camera retrieval, photographers will be escorted back to Gate
1.
Because this launch is a Delta II Heavy configuration with larger
solid rocket boosters, the media viewing site will be atop the
Trident Bluff on south Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. There is no
infrastructure at this location, so news media should plan on being
fully self-contained. A wireless Internet capability will be
available.
POST-LAUNCH ACTIVITIES
No post-launch news conference is planned. A post-launch news release
will be issued once first contact has been made with GLAST and the
state of health of the spacecraft can be determined. This should
occur within one hour after spacecraft separation from the Delta II.
NEWS CENTER HOURS FOR LAUNCH
Kennedy's News Center will be open for GLAST news operations beginning
on Sunday, June 1, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., continuing through
launch. Starting at that time, status reports on the launch of GLAST
and any media updates will be recorded on the news center update line
at 321-867-2525.
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